The Mancos RE-6 school district on Wednesday provided parents and community members with an update on where the district stands on a future mill levy, as both the Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 and Dolores RE-4A school districts are pursuing mill levies in next week’s election.
The district also gave an “exciting” update on the status of voting-aged students in the district.
As far as the mill levies are concerned, Mancos Superintendent Todd Cordrey gave an idea of what a mill levy could look like for the Mancos school district in the future, even though they are not pursuing one at this time.
“We are dedicated to working within our existing budget, even though this means confronting significant challenges in maintaining our excellent programs and talented staff,” Cordrey said. “However, it’s important to note that in the future, our community may need to consider a tax increase to ensure that we continue to meet essential needs and retain the quality of education and staff that our students deserve.”
He also gave an honest look at how the mill levies in Cortez and Dolores could affect Mancos, though the tax increase wouldn’t affect Mancos residents.
“As neighboring districts Cortez and Dolores put forth their tax initiatives, it’s important to understand the potential impact on our district. While these initiatives will not affect taxpayers within Mancos school district’s boundaries, the passage of such measures could place us at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting and retaining staff,” Cordrey said. “Furthermore, teacher pay is a critical issue, as the pay gap between educators in Montezuma County and surrounding areas, including New Mexico, has widened significantly, with neighboring communities offering 20% higher salaries.”
Cordrey cited the Economic Policy Institute, which recently provided a report saying that teachers in Colorado earn 35.9% less than other workers with college degrees. This is reportedly the largest gap in the United States.
“This challenge is particularly acute in lower-income areas like Montezuma County, where staff must often double as both educators and wellness providers to meet the complex social needs of our students,” Cordrey said.
Even with these hurdles to education in rural Colorado, Cordrey said he is still optimistic about the future.
“Despite these challenges, I remain optimistic about the future of our schools, thanks to the tremendous support we receive from our community and the commitment of our staff,” Cordrey said. “Together, we will continue to make Mancos a place where our students thrive both academically and personally.”
Anyone with questions about the upcoming mill levies in neighboring districts, how they can impact Mancos and other related questions can contact Cordrey at tcordrey@mancosre6.edu.
Cordrey also told The Journal that 100% of Mancos High School students who are eligible to vote have been registered ahead of the election on Tuesday.
Because the high school reached 100% voter registration, they are eligible to apply for the Eliza Pickrell Routt Award, which is given to Colorado high schools who have a minimum of 85% of eligible students register to vote.
“When students register, they learn about the political process, the three branches of government and their rights and responsibilities in a democracy, all while fulfilling the Portrait of a Graduate competency of being civic minded,” the district explained.
“Voting matters because it gives you a voice in shaping what's happening in the world. It's a significant milestone in becoming an active citizen,” Mancos high schooler Trista Lechman said.
Mancos civics teacher William Custer added that preserving the freedom to vote is done by empowering young people to make their voices heard in the public square.
“Getting younger voters registered is critical to increasing the health of our democracy. This initiative empowers youth to exercise their right to vote,” Custer said. “Voting and voicing your opinion is a beautiful aspect of our democracy, often overlooked and taken for granted. The only way to preserve this right is by exercising it, and it all starts with registering young people.”
